A few drops of alcohol won't drive scorpions to suicide

I have here a note from a guy who wants me to help him with the crossword.

Now I like to think of this as a full-service column, but there are limits.

Sorry, pal. You're on your own.

Is it true that if you put a few drops of alcohol on a scorpion, it will go mad and sting itself to death?

Did you know that 400 or so million years ago, scorpions lived in the sea and were up to 3 feet long? That's kind of creepy.

A lot of people believe the alcohol thing, but it isn't true.

The main reason for this is that scorpions are immune to their own venom. It is true that a scorpion might attack and eat another scorpion, but it can't poison itself.

However, I suppose if the alcohol got through a scorpion's exoskeleton and affected the critter's nervous system or something, it might go into convulsions and appear to be stinging itself. And they will convulse if they get overheated, which is why some people believe a scorpion will sting itself to death if it comes near a fire.

The other day I heard someone described as a "henchman." What is the origin of that word?

It comes from the 13th-century word "hengestman," which meant "high-ranking servant." That word came from the Old English word "hengest," which meant "horse."

It took on its rather ominous meaning in the 18th century. Jackals used to be referred to sometimes as "skulking henchmen" based on the belief that they stir up prey for lions, which of course they don't.